George's Portrait

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory

Another relatively easy symbol to figure out. Amelia has a little portrait of George hanging in her room. Every time she so much as thinks about moving on after his death, she gazes at this picture and it commands her to keep loving him and him alone. Now think about what kind of wall decorations people often use to guide them in making life decisions. Things with some religious significance, right? We'll throw out the idea that Amelia has replaced whatever belief system she had with her idealized, false, misguided love of George. He has now become an icon for her, or even an idol (you know, the bad kind that thou shalt not worship according to one of the ten commandments). Which is always bad news.